Combined mounting and closure for handbag purses or similar articles



Dec. 3, 1940. s. LANDBERG 2,223,627

COMBINED MOUNTING AND CLOSURE FOR HANDBAG PURSES 0R SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed June 5, 1940 Fig.1

Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED ,STATES PATENT OFFICE HANDBAG PURSES OR CLES SHWILAR ARTI- George Landberg, Bronx, N. Y.

' Application June 5, 1940, Serial No. 338,878

3 Claims.

This invention relates to devices such as handbags and purses.

One object ofthe invention is to provide a device of the character described having improved means affording a combined mountin and closure for a purse or other inside suspended pocket of a handbag.

Heretofore it has been known to extend a purse or the like in central longitudinal relationto a handbag, with the purse connected at its ends to the handbag or frame thereof, as by extensions or stringers of the slide fastener which closes the purse. The latter structure is shown in my Patent No. 2,182,563Qissued December 5, 1939.

The device of that patent resulted in a substantially less expensive construction, but due to the cost of the slide fastener it was found impossible to meet the lowest price demand in which the largest sales volume exists. Nor could the problem be solved by using any other conventional closure, such as the slide clips and chain, for the same reason. And yet the importance of .the matter was such that if the cost could be further reduced, the sales volume in the lowest price range would be at least several times as great. Of course, making the body of the handbag itself very cheap was no solution because the public and the large purchasers have become discriminating and insist upon a fairly well made handbag and will not sacrifice material and workmanship for the sake of a better purse pocket. Hence if there was to be any reduction in cost, it had to come out of the structure of the purse mounting and, closure, and not out of the main body of the handbag. If that could be done, the convenience and style of a central suspension purse would be available in the lowest price field.

It is therefore an object of the invention to overcome the above mentioned difficulty and to attain the resultant advantages, with a structure which is neat, reliable and easily operable even by a child, and which is durable and efficient.

45 Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in View, the invention consists in the novel combinations and ar- 50 rangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a device embodying the invention showing a handbag and purse in open position.

Fig. 2 is an inside view in vertical elevation .5 of one member of the handbag frame, with the bag body removed, and with the purse mounted on said member and being in closed position.

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional views taken on the lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, of 10 Fig. 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views on the lines 55 and 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary end view of the purse before attachment to the handbag. 15

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing a modification of the invention.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the ,20 same structure, but, useful devices may be pro duced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different con-1 5 structions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

Referring in detail to the-drawing, l0 denotes a handbag embodying the invention. The same 130 may include any conventional handbag including a bag body II and a pair of inverted, U-shaped frame members l2, l3, pivotally interconnected at [4, said bag body being marginally connected to the frame members, and the latter being detachably interengaged as by any suitable fastener (not shown).

Suspended within the bag body H in central, longitudinal relation thereto is a purse or pocket I5 which may include a body portion l6 and a 40 combined closure and mounting means adjacent to the top mouth of the purse. One. side wall of the purse body may have a marginal lip l1, and the other may have a marginal lip l8 which may be somewhat smaller than the companion lip, both of these lips extending from end to end of the purse body. For interengaging these lips so as to close the purse, 9. clip or split tubular closure element I9 is provided which is of substantially inverted, U-shaped form and is curved or convexed to be reliably retained on said lips and yet to be slidable therealong. Thus the closure element l9 may be moved to the left end of the purse to permit its mouth to be opened as in Fig. 1, and may be movable to a central position as in tion, the larger lip ll may at least partially overlie the smaller lip 18.

It will be seen that if the purse be connected to the opposed ends of the handbag, opening up of the purse, which causes contraction of the purse longitudinally of the handbag would be resisted by the bag body, and could occur only by causing deformation of the bag body, assuming that the frame is omitted. Such a structure would be operative, but it is obviously desirable to avoid such resistance or distortion. As hereinafter described, the invention accomplishes this result.

It will also be perceived that a suitable stop ought to be provided to limit the movement of the closure element I9 to its central position. Further, it will be noted that the stop must" be strong and yet must not obstruct the snug fitting interengagement of the lips ll, I8 for a proper closure. Nor is it desirable that the stop be afforded by a flexible chain or the like which would increase the cost of manufacture and hang down and catch with articles that a child might place in the handbag. As hereinafter described, the invention accomplishes this result.

Accordingly, I extend an elastic strip member 20 along the outside of the purse, for example, closely below the lip ll. This elastic strip-member 2K9 extends substantially beyond the ends of the purse as at 20a, the end portions thereof. be ing secured to the ends of the handbag, as by being clamped in aiframe member l2 of channel form or by a prong or clip thereof, for instance, in the manner shown by my prior patent hereinbefore mentioned. When thus secured, the elastic element 20 is under moderate tension at least at the portions 20a to support the purse in the suspended manner.

In order to maintain the elastic element closely and evenly alongside the purse at all times, a plurality of end fasteners or clips 2| are provided. A similar or like clip 22 may be provided, secured only to the elastic element 2!] and located so as to form a stop for the closure element IS.

The clips 2| may be conventioned and are of inverted, U-shape form, and serve the combined purpose of securing together the ends of the lips l1, l8 and of clamping the elastic thereto. In

other words, the end seams of the purse may terminate below the lips as shown in Fig. 7, and the lips may be unconnected to each other, except by the clips 2|. The clips 21 may be pressed in place, and the elastic element 20 therebetwee maybe quite free of tension.

It will now be seenthat the purse I5 is centrally suspended in operative position in the handbag and is opened and closed, by the closure element l9 by movement of the latter to the left or right. At the left the clip 21 forms a stop; at the center, the clip 22 forms .a stop therefor.

If a child should force the closure element l9 against the clip 22, no breakage will occur-because of the elastic mounting, and because the stop 22 is also elastically movable.

When the purse is opened up, it contractslongitudinally causing the elastic sections 20a t stretch correspondingly.

When the purse is closed, the'elastic element tends to keep it closed; and when the closure is moved to its central position, the stop 22 does not obstruct the snug fitting relation between the lips V I H 2,228,627 Fig. 2 to close the purse. When in closed posil1, [8. The term purse is used in a generic sense herein.

In Fig. 8 is shown a modification, according to which one of the end clips 2| is changed to form a clip 24 having an outward bulge 25 forming an inner recess for slidably accommodating the adjacent elastic element 20, so that the substantially entire length of this element is stretchable when the purse is opened up. This may afford greater convenience if a very large degree of opening is desired for the purse.

It will now be seen that I have provided a device which fulfills the objects of the invention and is well adapted for practical use.

I claim:

1. A handbag having an inverted U-shaped frame comprising pivotally interconnected frame members, a purse having lips for the mouth thereof, an elastic strip member extending along the outside of the purse in closely underlying relation to one of the lips, said elastic element projecting beyond the ends of thepurse and having end portions connected to the arms of a frame member, said elastic; element providing stretchable sections between the ends of the purse and the adjacent frame arms, means connecting the elastic element to the purse adjacent to the ends thereof, a closure, memberenga'geable with said lips and being slidable therealong, a stop element fixed on the elastic element in position to engage said closure member, and said purse being contractible for opening the mouth thereof with said sections of the elastic element being subjected to a corresponding degree of stretch.

25A purse having a top mouth such that the length of the purse diminishes upon opening the mouth, said mouth having longitudinal lips, a single closure slidably engaged with said lips to open and close the mouth, a strip element connected to and extending along the outside of the purse closely under'an adjacent lip, said strip element consisting-of elastic material-and having sections extending-beyond the ends of the purse for securement to end walls of a handbag to suspend the purse therein, with the said sections elongating as the purse is opened, and a stop for said closure mounted on said strip element.

3. A handbag having a. purse'having a top opening defined by longitudinal lips that areinterengaged by a closure clip which is slidable between central and end positions on the purse in opening and closing the-latter, an elongated flexible strip element extending along the outside of the purse andhavingits end portions secured to end. walls of the handbag, means securing said strip element to the purse adjacent to the ends thereof, said means including clip-like members also serving to interconnect said lips at the ends of the purse mouth, said strip element being otherwise free offthe p'ursasaidstrip element lying close tothe' underside of the adjacent lip, and a 'stop clip element fixed solelyon the strip element'to stop the said closure clip in purseflclosing'pos'ition, at least one o'ftheclip-like members being, provided: with: a. guide portion for slidably engaging the flexible strip element; the latter consisting of elastic material, and the purse contracting upon'openingthe' top opening thereof with the strip element; elongating 'and'sliding in said guideportion; q o

r r GEORGE LAND'BERG. 

